Henry titterton beockwell



(NoModeL) H. T. BROGKWELL. LAST FOR Boers 0R snons.

No. 550,095. Patenztyd Nov. 19, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY TITTERTON BROOKWELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LAST FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,095, dated November19, 1895.

Application filed-Tune 20,1895. $erial No. 553,416. (No model.) Patentedin France January 8, 1895, No. 244,187, and in Belgium J'anuaryS,1895,1To. 113,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY TITTERTON BROCKWELL, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at London, county of Middlesex,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lasts or Trees forBoots or Shoes, (for which Letters Patent have been granted to me inFrance, dated January 8, 1895, No. 244,187, and in Belgium, datedJanuary 8, 1895, No. 113,565,) of which the following is aspecification.

Heretofore pneumatic lasts or trees for boots and shoes as constructedhave been ineffective, owing to their not being capable of withstandingsufficient pressure to effectually distend the boot or shoe to whichthey were applied, the tendency of the air-pressure being to force thelast or tree out of the boot or shoe on account of no provision havingbeen made to resist this upward tendency. Now my invention is designedto overcome this disadvantage .by so constructing these lasts that theyshall be capable of withstanding considerable air-pressure without thetendency to leave the boot or shoe, and therefore be very efficient forthe purpose for which they are intended.

To this end my improved pneumatic last or tree comprises two portionsvia, an elastic air-vessel or sock and a metal or other cap adapted toreceive the neck of such sock and to pass down into and fit and beretained in the upper part of the boot or shoe by lacing or buttoningthe boot or shoe over it or by otherwise securing it therein. This capserves to confine the elastic air-vessel or sock in the boot or shoe.The air-vessel or sock is provided at its upper end with an air-tube(furnished with a valve) projecting through an aperture in the upperpart of the cap.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will proceed todescribe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 represents the hollow metal ca adapted to fit inside theboot or shoe and to inclose the upper portion of the sock or airvessel.Fig. 2 shows separately the elastic sock or air-vessel of the pneumaticlast or tree; and Fig. 3 shows in section the improved pneumatic last ortree applied to a boot, the latter being indicated by dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, a is the elastic sock. a is the air-tube withwhich this sock is provided at its upper end and having a nonreturnvalve similar to those used with pneumatic tires, and to which a smallair-pump, such as used by cyclists, can be applied for the purpose ofinflation. a is a nut on the said tube, which may be screwed down ontothe cap, as shown in Fig. 3, to keep the sock and cap in contact.

b is the hollow metal cap, in which is an aperture b to allow passage tothe air-tube when the said sock and cap are combined. This cap is ofsuch a shape that when it is placed in the boot or shoe and the latterlaced,'buttoned, or otherwise fastened over it the last or tree will befirmly retained therein during and after inflation.

The improved last when inflated serves to restore the boot or shoe toits original form and does not splay or widen it, as the pressure of theair forces the front or toe portion of the boot or shoe upward, andthereby removes creases or wrinkles, thus improving the shape of suchboot or shoe.

The metal caps when not in use may be packed one inside the other andthe socks be folded up and placed inside the inner cap, thus renderingmy improved lasts or trees very convenient for travelers and others whocould not readily employ the ordinary solid wooden lasts or trees, owingto their great weight and bulk. The said caps may, however, be made ofany other suitable material.

In applying my improved lasts or trees to riding-boots, cavalry-boots,and the like, which have neither laces nor buttons, the caps, which arealso suitably shaped to fit the leg of the boot, may be maintained inposition during and after inflation by a strap (or other fastening)passing under the waist or shank of the boot.

At places where it 'is not necessary to exert pressure against theboot-as, for instance, inside the cap-the elastic portion or sock of thelast or tree may be covered with canvas or other strong material, whichwill resist the air-pressure and so direct the air toward the toe orfront portion or to such portion of the boot or shoe where it is moreespecially required.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. A pneumaticlast or tree for boots or shoes, having a rigid cap adapted to pass downinto and to fit the interior of the upper shoe, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pneumatic last or tree for boots or shoes, the combination withthe elastic sock for the passage of a valved air tube forming 20 part ofthe elastic sock, and through which tube inflation is effected,substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing 2 5 witnesses.

HENRY TITTER'JION .liliOtlih'iihh. \Vitnesses:

II. ASHBY NORRIS, THOMAS LAKE.

